Monday, November 29, 2010

How to cheer up a depressed betta (fighting fish)

I appreciate everyone caring about my depressed fish. My husband, the wise one in this house ;0) did a search on the internet and found that depression is pretty common in Bettas /Fighting Fish. He read that changing their environment can help - they get bored, lol. He also read to try giving them bloodworms or brine shrimp to encourage them to eat.

So, this has been Ember's home for as long as I've had him, the mirror is not normally there, I put it there seeing if he would attempt to fight with himself - this was also a tip Dennis read while researching so I was on the right track. But, I made a mistake - the plant is a plastic plant and apparently this is not good. Bettas like their plants but the plastic hurts their fins.

If you look back up at the top photo you will see that we replaced his plastic plant with some live plants. I don't know how long they will actually live with so little light but I'm hopeful. We also found bloodworm and low and behold he ate! Each morning since the change he has been eating at least one pellet and one bloodworm. And, last night he was flitting about in his tank - he seems happier.

I guess all living creatures can be depressed and this one is lucky to get some treatment. Fresh plants and something attracting to eat will help I'm sure. Photowise I like the lightning on the top one, looks like a nice and peaceful place :-)

I'm so glad!!! I hate it when my fish are unhappy. We only went through that once (three fish ago) and eventually he died. My husband had the idea of bringing him mosquito larvae. Which he loved, but they made him sick and killed him eventually. Going through a pet store for something special is probably a good idea.

i'm so glad to hear Ember is doing better. sometimes a change of scenery is all anyone ever needs. his tank is looking really nice with all those live plants. hope he continues to eat and thrive. have a great day.

Poor fishy! I don't think you are supposed to leave the mirror there all the time though. We were told when we had ours years ago that a mirror will actually make them mad so only to hold it for a few minutes in front of the tank then remove it. Hope he cheers up! Hugs xoxox

thanks for the tips and info I believe my fish is depressed-he is not eating much just hangs around in the bottom of the tank--doesn't react much when I come near him to feed him either. I am going to try some brine shrimp as well as changing the bowl he is in. I do however have live flower in container that he is in. Hope this works. Thanks alot.

my male is acting exactly the same and he is also quite small. i have them in a half gallon tank with no light and i have a betta and a white cloud in a gallon with a light so if you have advice tell me

the female and male i have in the same tank has a devider so they might not know each other are there! my gallon doesnt have a devider between the wcm and my betta and they seem much happier so could it be because my female and male bettas are lonely?

My betta is new, i moved him into his 9L tank and he has felt plants and hides. He looks in good health other then the fact he doesnt eat very much and doesnt swim verg often. He flares when i hold up a mirror but that figures out whats happening and sinks to the bottom again...Im not sure what i should do to help him